Crime Numbers
The Georgia Bureau of Information (GBI) provides crime statistics for all counties in the state. Its latest annual crime report shows that Columbia County witnessed 76 violent crimes and 2,252 property crimes in 2017. These figures reveal that violent crime rate (16.9%) went up in 2017 compared to 2013 while property crime rate (2.3%) declined in the same period.
A closer look at the reported Part I crimes for 2017 in the county shows that there was zero murder, 13 rapes, 21 robberies, and 42 aggravated assaults. In the same year, the county recorded 251 burglaries, 1,907 larceny thefts, and 94 motor vehicle thefts.
Between 2013 and 2017, murder (100%) and burglary (27.9%) declined in Columbia County while rape remained flat. In the same period, robbery (5%), aggravated assault (36.5%), larceny (2.3%), and motor vehicle theft (2.2%) rates rose.
Criminal Records
Columbia County criminal history records are maintained by the Georgia Crime Information Center (GCIC) of the GBI. GCIC provides a fingerprint-based check for these records via local enforcement agencies. To perform a check of Columbia County criminal history records, visit any of the Sheriff’s Office locations at:
2273 County Camp Road
P. O. Box 310
Appling, GA 30802
(706) 541-1042
A signed Criminal History Consent Form and a valid photo ID are required to complete the check. The Sheriff's Office attends to requests for criminal record checks from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Each check costs $10, payable in cash.
The county’s accident and incident reports are provided by the Sheriff’s Office. A request for a copy of any report may be made by calling the Sheriff’s Office Records Section at (706) 541-1042/1043. The first copy is provided free of charge while each additional copy costs $1. The public can view available accident reports through Police 2 Citizen link on the home page of the Sheriff's Office’s website.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) is the central repository of information on all registered violent sexual offenders in the state. To find registered sex offenders living in Columbia County, visit the Georgia Sex Offender Registry and search by first/last name, street address, city, or zip code. A search can also be made by other criteria including offender type, offense, gender, race, incarceration status, and distance from an address.
The Columbia County Sheriff's Office also provides a search engine on its website to locate registered sex offenders in the county. Use the search engine to find offenders residing up to 20 miles from a neighborhood in the county or find specific offenders by name, race, sex, or age. The public can also find a list of all sex offenders registered at the Sheriff's Office on the site.
Jail Information
The Columbia County Detention Center is the main jail in the county. It shares the same address as the Sheriff’s Main Office at County Camp Road in Appling.
Family and friends can make cash and credit card deposits into an inmate's account via the Kiosk (ATM) located in the Detention Center’s lobby. Cash deposits incur a $3 transaction fee while charges for credit card deposits vary with the amount deposited. There is an option for online deposits via www.jailatm.com using a credit card.
The Detention Center also accepts funds sent by mail to inmates’ accounts by money order, certified check, and government checks. Send funds by mail to:
Inmate's full name, Housing Unit
P.O. Box 310
Appling, GA 30802
Inmate Records
To locate an inmate currently in custody, visit the inmate inquiry page on the Columbia County Sheriff's Office website. Select the 'arrest date' tab to sort the inmate list on the page by the most recent arrests. Select any inmate's name to view the complete booking details of the subject. The list can be filtered by name, race, sex, age, arrest date, primary charge, and booking agency. The Columbia County Sheriff's Office also provides a list of recent arrestees on its webpage.
Court records
Columbia County courts belong to Georgia’s Tenth Judicial District. The Superior Court is the county's primary trial court but typically only handle cases that are beyond the jurisdiction of other courts. The other courts in Columbia County include the Juvenile Court, two Probate Courts, a Magistrate Court, and two Municipal Courts. Listed below are the addresses and contact details of all the courts in the county:
Columbia County Superior Court
Columbia County Justice Center
640 Ronald Reagan Drive
P.O. Box 2930
Evans, GA 30809
(706) 312-7139
Columbia County Superior Court
Appling Courthouse
1958 Appling Harlem Road
Appling, GA 30802
(706) 312-7139
Columbia County Juvenile Court
Columbia County Justice Center
640 Ronald Reagan Drive
P.O. Box 2930
Evans, GA 30809
(706) 312-7139
Probate Court of Columbia County
Columbia County Justice Center
640 Ronald Reagan Drive
P.O. Box 1520
Evans, GA 30809
(706)-312-7254
Probate Court of Columbia County
1956 Appling Harlem Road
P.O. Box 525
Appling, GA 30802
(706) 541-1254
Columbia County Magistrate Court
Columbia County Justice Center
640 Ronald Reagan Drive
P.O. Box 777
Evans, GA 30809
(706) 868-3316
Municipal Court of Grovetown
113 East Robinson Avenue
Grovetown, GA 30813
(706) 868-9541
Municipal Court of Harlem
320 North Louisville Street
PO Box 99
Harlem, Georgia 30814
(706) 556-3448
The Clerk of the Superior Court is charged with maintaining and providing court records on request to the general public. Dockets of civil and criminal case files are available for public viewing on the Clerk’s Office webpage. Conduct a simple search by case number or party's name to find the relevant court record on the page. The Columbia County Clerk of Courts’ webpage also features a case search engine. Use this feature to find upcoming trial dates, case information, and recent court hearings.
To obtain printed copies of a court record, visit the Clerk's Office at the Evans Justice Center or Appling Court House. The Clerk's Office at Evans Justice Center handles court record requests from Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. While the office at Appling Courthouse is open to the public on Tuesdays only from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Plain copies of court records are made available for $1 per page while certified records cost an additional $2 per document. However, unassisted printing of uncertified copies of court records costs 50 cents per page. For further information, contact the Clerk’s Office by email or at (706) 312-7139.
Vital Records
Certified copies of Columbia County divorce records are provided by the county’s Clerk of Superior Court. Contact the Clerk’s Office at the Evans Justice Center to request a copy.
The Vital Records Office of the Georgia Department of Public Health (GDPH) only verifies divorces that took place in Columbia County between June 1952 and August 1996. Verification and copies of records for divorces that occurred prior to June 1952 and after August 1996 are available from the Columbia County Clerk of Superior Court. Divorce verification costs $10 per request and a request can be made in person or by mail. To make a request in person, come along with the completed Divorce Verification request form, a valid photo ID, and the required fee when visiting:
State Office of Vital Records
1680 Phoenix Boulevard
Suite 100
Atlanta, GA 30349
The State Office of Vital Records is open to the public from Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Cash and credit/debit cards are accepted as a means of payment for in-person requests. For mail-in requests, forward the completed form, a valid photo ID, and a certified check or money order for the fee to the address above. It is also possible to request these records at the Columbia County Vital Records Office located at:
1956 Appling Harlem Highway
P.O. Box 525
Appling, GA 30802
Phone: (706) 312-7139
The GDPH Vital Records Office issues certified copies of Columbia County marriage certificates from June 1952 to August 1996. The first certified copy costs $10 while there is a $5 fee for each additional copy in the same order. To order certified copies of a marriage record, complete and sign the Request for Marriage Record form. Submit the completed form with a valid photo ID and the fee to the Vital Records Office following the process outlined above for obtaining divorce verification from the office.
To obtain certified copies of Columbia County marriage licenses prior to June 1952 and after August 1996, visit the Columbia County Probate Court at the address provided above. The Probate Court also accepts requests online. Each certified copy costs $10.
Columbia County birth and death records from 1919 to the present are maintained by the GDPH Vital Records Office. A certified copy of a birth or death record costs $25 and $10 for each additional copy in the same order. To order a certified copy, download and complete the birth or death application form. Submit the completed form, a copy of a valid photo ID, and the fee to the state or local Vital Records Office. The submission process is the same as explained above for divorce verification requests.
Alternatively, a request for Columbia County birth or death record can be submitted online via the State of Georgia's ROVER System. There is an additional $8 processing fee when requesting for these vital records online. Expedited processing and shipping option is also available for an additional $10 fee per order. For further questions on obtaining a vital record, contact the Vital Records Call Center at (404) 679-4702.
Are Property Records Open to the Public in Columbia County?
Property records in Columbia County are classified as public records in compliance with the Georgia Open Records Act. Interested persons may inspect and obtain copies of property records and do not need to provide reasons before inspection or copy requests. Property records within the state are generally maintained by the clerk of Courts although the Tax commissioner and the Assessor’s Department also maintain limited property records as well. For further inquiries, interested persons may contact the Clerk of Courts or the Tax Commissioner at
Evans Justice Center
640 Ronald Reagan Drive
Evans, GA 30809
630 Ronald Reagan Drive
Building C, Second Floor
Evans, GA 30809
Where and How to Find Property Records in Columbia County
The Columbia County Clerk of Courts maintains a record of property within Columbia County. It also provides public access to Columbia County property records at no cost. The Tax Assessor's division also maintains records of all real and personal properties within the county, including the current property owner and fair market value. To inspect records in person or for physical inquiries interested persons may visit any of the Clerk of Courts offices at
Evans Justice Center
640 Ronald Reagan Drive
Evans, GA 30809
Visits may be on any weekday between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
Appling Court House
1958 Appling-Harlem Hwy.
Appling, GA 30802
Visits may be only on Tuesdays between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
Phone: (706) 312-7139
clerkinfo@columbia.gsccca.org
Or Contact the County Tax assessor at:
630 Ronald Reagan Drive
Building C, Second Floor
Evans, GA 30809
Phone: (706) 261-8299
Email: propertytax@columbiacountyga.gov
How to Look Up Columbia County Property Records
The Tax office maintains an online map application where interested persons may obtain some information on Columbia County property records. To find a property on the portal individuals may enter the map, parcel, owner name, address, or subdivision. The Columbia County Clerk of Courts also provides access to property records through three indexes.
The Real Estate Deed Index provides public access to property records in Columbia County from January 1st, 1999 till the present. It provides information such as the names of the seller and buyer of real estate, location of the property, and liens over the property. Users may also find directions to the physical location of the record i.e. the book and the page number. To search the index users may provide the name, property subdivision, unit, block and lot, or instrument type.
Under state law, the Clerk is also mandated to maintain a Lien Index. Users may search for property liens alphabetically by name or by county, book, or page. Individuals may also search for pending liens issued by the Georgia Department of Revenue. A Plat Index is the third index maintained in compliance with state law. Using the index users may access property information, including plat images, maps and, searchable index data. The plat index may also be searched alphabetically by name or by county, book, or page. In-person support is available at the Clerk of Court’s offices at
Evans Justice Center
640 Ronald Reagan Drive
Evans, GA 30809
Visits may be on any weekday between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
Appling Court House
1958 Appling-Harlem Hwy.
Appling, GA 30802
Visits may be only on Tuesdays between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
Location of Columbia County Property Assessors
630 Ronald Reagan Drive
Building C, Second Floor
Evans, GA 30809
Phone: (706) 261-8299
Email: propertytax@columbiacountyga.gov
